Tong-truck.



Patented Dec. 5, |899.

No. 638,66n. f w. J. BuNvEA.

T U N G T R U C K (Application filed Hay 29. 1899..)

(N0 Model.)

NTTED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

VALTER J. BUNYEA, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO FREDRIO O. OROCKER, OF SAME PLACE.

ToNe-TRUCK.

sPEcmIeAT'Io'N forming part ef Lettere Patent No. 638,661. aerea December 5, 189e. Application filed May 29, 1899l Serial No. 718,625. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. BUNYEA, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tong-Trucks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tong-trucks for use in handling baggage or merchandise of any kind.

In my improved truck the arms are connected with crossed jaws which are pivoted to the axle, extending both in front and rear of the same, the jaws being arranged on the tongs principle, whereby the article to he carried may be grabbed by the jaws, which when closed on the article are locked in place by spring-held dogs engaging a ratchet mounted on the axle of the truck. The locking-dogs may be released byimeans of rods or wires extending therefrom to a position within easy reach of an outstretched finger of either hand which is grasping the upper extremity of a truck-arm. By pulling rearwardly on these rods the dogs are disengaged from the ratchet, thus allowing the jaws to open, whereby the article between them is released.

Having briefly outlined the construction of my invention, as well as the principle upon which it operates, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure lis a front View in perspective of my improved truck shown in position for use, the handles or arms being inclined about as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of one side of the truck shown on a large scale. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the upper portion of one of the arms shown in the proper inclination for use. Fig. d is a section taken on the line X X, Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Similar reference-characters indicating corresponding parts in the views, let the numeral 5 designate the truck-axle,which is provided with two depending parts 5,upon which are formed the journals 5c for the wheels 6. Upon the central portion of this axle are pivoted, as shown at 7, the crossed double jaws 8, extending both forwardly and rearwardly from the axle. Each jaw is composed of two metal parts S"-,\vhich straddle the axle. These two parts of each jaw embrace the lower extremity of an arm 9, one part 8? extending above and the other below the arm. The jaws are respectively attached to the arms by any suitable fastening devices, as bolts or rivets. The forward extremities of the parts 8fL of each arm are connected, as shown at A in Fig. l. The portion B of each jaw, beginning at a point O and extending forwardly, is bent to occupyr a horizontal or approximately horizontal position when the rear portion of the jaw is inclined to correspond with the position of the arm 9 in Fig. 3. Between the two parts of the horizontal portion of each jaw is pivotally mounted a crescent-shaped self-adjusting dog 10. These dogs protrude from the jaws sufficiently to grasp whatever the jaws may close upon.

Attached to the axle and extending rearward ly in the plane of the arms 9 and the rear portion of the jaws 8 is a semicircular metal strap 12, which occupies a position between the two jaw parts 8a. To this strap l2 are attached two ratchet-bars 13, curved to conform to the shape of the strap. Pivotally mounted on each jaw, between its two parts and adjacent the ratchet 13, is a dog 14., normally held in engagement with the ratchet by a spring l5, one extremity of which bears against the dog,while the other extremity engages a recess or socket formed in the extremity of the arm 9. Each of these dogs may be unlocked or disengaged from its ratchetbar by means of a small rod or wire 16, connected at one extremity with an exteriorlyprotruding lug 14a, formed on the dog, its opposite extremity terminating in a ring or eye 16a, conveniently located to be grasped by a linger of the hand of the user. This rod 16 is supported on the arm 9 by guides 17.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of myimproved truck will be read- IOO ily understood. To open the jaws, it is only necessary to move the arms 9 away from each other. The arms and jaws will then be in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. In order to accomplish this, the rods 16 must be drawn toward the user sufficiently to release the dogs 141 from the ratchet-bars 13. To close the jaws on the article to be carried by the truck, the arms 9 are moved toward each other. During this operation the dogs 14 slip over the teeth of the ratchet-bars automatically and without the manipulation of the rods 16.

It is evident that when the jaws are closed ou the article or package to be carried the dogs by their engagement with the ratchetbars will lock them in the closed position unti'l they are released in the manner heretofore explained. t

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is- 1. In a tong-truck, the combination with the axle and wheels, of crossed jaws pivotally mounted on the axle and provided with operating-arms extending` rearwardly therefrom, self-adjustable dogs mounted on the jaws forward of the axle and suitable means for locking the jaws and arms in any desired position.

2. The combination with the wheels and axle, of crossed jaws pivoted thereon and extending in front and rear of the axle, said jaws being provided with operating-arms, ratchet-bars mounted on the axle, and locking-dogs mounted on the jaw-arms adjacent said ratchets, which they are arranged to engage.

3. The combination with the wheels and axle, of crossed jaws pivoted thereon and extending in front and rear of the axle, said jaws being provided with operating -arms, ratchet-bars mounted on the axle, lockingdogs mounted on the jaw-arms adjacent said ratchets, which they are adapted to engage, and rods connected with said dogs and movably mounted on the arms.

4. The combination with the wheels and axle, of crossed jaws pivoted thereon and extending in front and rear of the axle, said jaws being provided with operating-arms, a curved ratchet mounted on the axle adjacent the rear portion of each jaw, and a springheld locking-dog mounted on each arm adjacent the ratchet.

5. The combination with the wheels and axle, of crossed jaws pivotally mounted thereon at the point of intersection, said jaws being provided with rearwardly-extending operating-arms, and self-adjustable dogs mounted on the jaws forward of the axle.

Y6. The combination with the wheels and axle, of crossed jaws each composed of two parts which straddle the axle, the jaws being pivotally mounted thereon at their point of intersection,operating-arms to which the rear extremities of the jaws are attached, a curved metal strap mou ntedon the axle and provided with ratchet-teeth, the said strap being straddled bythe parts of each jaw, and a lockingdog mounted on each jaw and adapted to engage the ratchet-teeth.

7. The combination with the wheels and axle, of crossed jaws, each composed of two parts which straddle the axle, the jaws being pivotally mounted thereon at their point of intersection, operating-arms towhich the rear extremities of the jaws are attached, a curved metal strap mounted on the axle and provided with ratchet-teeth, the said strap being straddled by the parts of both arms, and a springheld dog mounted between the parts of each jaw and adapted to engage the ratchet-teeth.

8. The combination with the wheels and axle, of crossed jaws, each composed of two parts which straddle the axle, the jaws being pivotally mounted thereon at their point of intersection, operating-arms to which the rear extremities of the jaws are attached, and selfadjustable dogs mounted between the parts of each jaw, forward of the axle.

In testimony whereof Iaftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER J. BUN YEA.

IVitnesses:

LEWIS W. LowARDs, JOHN C. BRAIDEN. 

